Advance file photo"I find it outrageous that in one of the most troubled real estate markets in which every home is losing value and foreclosures are sky high, that the City of New York is saying values went up," said City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore). "This Byzantine system of charging you more year after year is enough to make a three-card monte dealer jealous."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With home values plummeting thanks to the stagnant economy but property taxes surging because of the city's "Byzantine" math, Staten Island homeowners and lawmakers are gearing up for battle with the taxman.

Stapleton resident Len Rachlin said his assessment went up the full 6 percent allowed by law, according to a recent missive from the city.

"Let's not pretend my house went up in value 6 percent in this market," said Rachlin, who has lived in his neighborhood for 22 years. "They're saying my house is worth more than it was a year ago."

Rachlin said he didn't know exactly how much higher his property-tax bill will be as a result of his higher assessment.

"I find it outrageous that in one of the most troubled real estate markets in which every home is losing value and foreclosures are sky high, that the City of New York is saying values went up," said City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore). "This Byzantine system of charging you more year after year is enough to make a three-card monte dealer jealous."

Ignizio, who joined with Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) in slamming the city tax system, spoke after the city Finance Department published its Tentative Assessment Roll for Fiscal Year 2012, the first step in the process of setting property taxes.

According to the roll, market values for 1-, 2- and 3-family homes decreased by 0.37 percent, but the average tax bill will rise by about $79.03.

The market value for condos, co-ops and apartment buildings fell by 5.14 percent, yet those average bills will jump by around $118.20.

Homeowners received notices about their current assessments in the mail.

Ignizio and Oddo called the system "bizarre" and one that "operated outside the bounds of logic and common sense."

The yearly revelations can cause particular consternation on the Island, where many are private homeowners. The frustration is more acute these days, when the recession has led to increased taxes, fees and other costs.

But not every homeowner is in the same boat. One Castleton Corner resident, who didn't want his name used, said the city reduced the market value on his home by $13,000 this year, after years of hitting him with 6 percent increases. His assessment is also lower.

"It's the first time I can remember in forever that the market value went down," he said.

Oddo and Ignizio said the city seems to understand that many here remain frustrated.

They said city Finance Commissioner David M. Frankel has agreed to hold a public meeting on the Island to explain the assessment process.

Owners have until March 15 to file an objection if they feel their assessment is wrong. Forms can be found at www.nyc.gov/finance. You can call also Oddo's office at 718-980-1017 or Ignizio's office at 718-984-5151.

The final assessment roll will be published on May 25 and property tax bills will be calculated for FY 2012, which begins on July 1, 2011.

It's not the first time Oddo and Ignizio have questioned the city's seemingly upside-down assessment math.

"It seems logical to assume that lower home prices will lead to lower assessments and therefore to lower tax bills, but as with other aspects of the city's property tax system, logic does not always have a place at the table," they wrote to Finance in 2007.

Then-Commissioner Martha Stark replied that assessed values would continue to grow "for several years" in order to catch up with market growth in prior years.

A lag exists due to a state law that says assessed values cannot increase by more than 6 percent in one year and 20 percent over five years. This protects homeowners from large market swings, but leads to a catch-up period when markets cool.

Oddo said the increased assessments were one of the reasons he opposed Bloomberg's 18.5 percent property-tax hike in 2002.

"It seems as if the entire system is set up to creatively squeeze more revenue out of unfortunate taxpayers," he said.

Albany lawmakers are also looking to give city homeowners some property tax relief.

State Sens. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) have introduced a bill with Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) that would cap the yearly growth of property taxes at either 2 percent or at the level of the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

The rest of the borough's Albany delegation has signed on as co-sponsors.

"Staten Islanders are tapped out," said Lanza. "This legislation will put an end to out of control tax increases that are being forced upon us."

Said Cusick, "Property-tax relief is an essential aspect of easing the fiscal burdens of working families."

The bill will now be circulated to the entire New York City delegation for co-sponsorship.